Sleigh-runner



N0. 6|6,2l5. Patented Dec. 20, I898. C. H. VAN WAGONER.

SLEIGH RUNNER.

(Application filed Dec. 1, 1896.)

.(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet Witnesses. inventor.

Qf%/fi6 QAMMW M y a? (WM- M Attorney.

1': Noam: vz-rzns co, Pnoraufna. WASNINCTON, a r.

No. 6|6,2|5. Patented Dec. 20, I898. C. H. VAN WAGONER.

SLEIGH RUNNER.

(Application filed Dec. 1, 1396.)

(N0 Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

mummulllll I {mwJ/ W m1 www Attorney.

Tuz' Norms PEYEns 20v moraumo, WASNINGTDN. By C.

UNITED STATES PATENT O FIC CHARLES H. VAN IVAGONER, OF LANSING,MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF THREE FOURTHS TO HARRIS E. THOMAS AND IRVILLE A.HARPER, OF SAME PLACE, AND FRED II. STONE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SLElGH-RUNNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,215, dated December20, 1898.

Application filed December 1, 1896. Serial No. 614,149. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES II. VAN \VAGONER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the city of Lansing, in the county I of Ingham andState of Michigan, have inof track, which is a very desirable feature,

especially in cities or where a vehicle is intended to be operated bothin the city and in the country.

The objects of my invention are therefore,

first, to provide a runner which can be easily adjusted to variouswidths of the track; second, to provide runners which are so pivotedthat there shall be a minimum of strain upon the runner and bearings inuse; third, to provide runners that are completely interchangeable, sothat runners from one side can be shifted to the other to equalize thewear upon the shoes,which is of great advantage; fourth,

to provide a runner so constructed that all wear and tear is relieved onthe axle of the vehicle from operation; fifth, to provide an improvedattaching means for runners 5 sixth,

to provide a runner that can be stored in a very compact spaoeforshipment, and, sev- 0 enth, to provide a runner that can be easilytransported on the vehicle itself. Further and other objects will appeardefinitely in the detailed description. I accomplish these obsideelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation online 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar View to Fig. 3, showing the axleadjusted to a wide track. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the knee of therunner at the 5; angle of the top. Fig. 6 is also a detail View of thepivotal yoke D for the connectingbraces'O.

In the drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar partsthroughout the several views and all of the sectional views are takenlooking in the direction of the little arrows atthe ends of thesection-lines.

Referring tothe lettered parts of the "drawings, A represents therunner, which is provided with a suitable shoe curved up in a gracefulcurve at the forward end and also curved up slightly at the rear topermit of its running in either direction. The runner is provided with apair of knees B B, which are formed in a single piece, which is bentinto an inverted-V shape at the top. There is no rave upon the runner;but a brace A is upon the runner A, which secures the lower part of theknee to the lower part of the same to serve as a support. A suitableblock F, of steel or iron, is provided to slip upon the axle and issecured in place by the set-screw J. A tread is placed upon the top, sothat the same shall serve as the step for entering the vehicle.Theunder'side is provided'with a pair of ears or lugs, through which abolt can extend for the purpose of attaching the runner. Over the axle His a clip having a crosspiece G on the under side, which is alsoprovided with a pair of cars for the reception of the bolt for thepurpose of securing the runner to the axle. The block F is also hollowedout at the ends, and the block of wood I placed therein and againstwhich the bur of the axle is turned to assist in clamping the samesecurely and prevent any shucking or wear and tear upon the axle itself.The blocks of wood I are made of considerable length, so that they canbe cut to the right length by the user of the runner to accommodate thelength of the axle.

Extending up from the lower part of the knee of the runner are a pair ofbraces O, which are secured together at their upper ends by a yoke D,which is pivoted between the same and has a suitable bblt -holetherethrough and is adapted to be inserted between the ears on the underside of the block F or on the clip G, as the case may be. These braces Care pivoted to a vertical portion of the knees B at the bottom, so thatthey will swing freely over the same. These braces O are of such lengththat they will swing freely over the top of the knees from one side tothe other.

The yoke D and the top of the knees B are pivoted to the under side ofthe axle exactly in a horizontal line at right angles to the line ofdraft, so that the runner tips up and down 011 the points of pivotingperfectly free with out binding or tending to twist or turn in anydirection, thus obviating the objection to the pivoting of the samedirectly on the axle. The braces 0, being adjustable over the knees 1permit of the runner being attached toward the inside, as indicated inFig. 3, or well out under the axle, as in Fig. 4, for adjusting thedistance between the runners to the width of the track upon which theyare intended to run. This construction also makes it unnecessary to makethe runners as rights and lefts, for by simply swinging the braces Cover the knees B the runner will become either a right-hand or aleft-hand 7 runner, as the case may be, or it can be placed inside ofthe tread or track of the wheel or out even with the same, as indicatedin the figures. hen it is desired to carry the runners with the vehicle,they can be attached by the brace only, as shown in Fig. 4, and therunner be folded up against the axle and secured there.

I desire to state that the details of this construction can beconsiderably varied without departing from my invention. The exact formof the knees B and the brace C is not material, as they can be made ofvarious forms and of fanciful designs, if preferred. A single brace 0might possibly be constructed to serve the purpose of both. The brace Amight be dispensed with when the runner is made sufficiently strongotherwise. It is not an essential that a tread be made on the top of theblock engaging the axle. No doubt other variations will readily suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains.Experience indicates, however, that the structure exactly as I haveproduced it is most eiiicient and satisfactory.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a runner for attachment towheeled vehicles the combination of therunner portion A, with knees B, secured thereto having a brace A,extending to the forward part of the runner and braces O, C, pivoted tothe lower part of the knees B, and joined together at the top by asuitable pivoted yoke D; a block F, to be placed upon the axle of thevehicle with the set-screw J, to adjust the same securely and the earson the under side to receive the attachment of the runner; and the clip,G, having ears on the under side to receive the other portion of therunner to attach the same and pivot them in straight lines coactingtogether substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a runner to be attached to wheeled vehicles the combination of therunner portion A, with knees extending upwardly therefrom attached to avehicle-axle; braces pivoted to a vertical portion of said knees andadapted to swing over the top of the same with a suitable yoke at thetop for attachment to the axle so that the runner can be used either asa right-hand or left-hand runner or be adjusted toward the inside ortoward the outside as the case may be.

In a runner to be attached to wheeled vehicles the combination of therunner portion; a knee ext-ending up therefrom and a pivoted braceadapted to swing to either side of said runner; and means of attachingsaid brace and knee to the axle to make the same interchangeable andadjustable as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceof two witnesses.

JOHN G. VHITTEN, CHARLES F. HAMMOND.

